September

Festival of Sacrifice that marks the end of Hajj. This is a four day holiday that usually begins at sundown the day before.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby

Mehndi for the whole school, parent volunteers and students place designs on one hand of students.

October

Celebrations:

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) ~ Oct. 3rd & 4th

Literally 'Head of Year' marks the first and second day of the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the creation of the world. It begins at sundown the night before and ends 10 days later with Yom Kippur. It is celebrated with prayers and religious services.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby

Yom Kippur (Jewish) ~ Oct. 11th

The Day of Atonement is the holiest and most solemn of all days in the Jewish year. They believe that once you atone for your mistakes, you can be 'at one' with God. Jews do not work, and fast from sunset to sunset.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby

Thanksgiving ~ October 10th

Annual Canadian holiday, occurring on the second Monday in October, which celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby

Diwali (Hinduism) ~ October 30th

It means 'row of lights' and is the Hindu New Year. Diwali lasts for 5 days: Day 1 - New Year for business, Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon, Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps, Day 4 - Bali worship day, Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby

Primary classes make paper Diya’s and junior/intermediate classes make glass jar Diya’s with battery operated candles. All are put in the display case.

Halloween ~ October 31st

It is a day to mark the single night in the year when, according to old Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead can cross over into the world of the living. Some people hold parties and children may trick-or-treat in their neighborhood.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on Edsby.

Display case decorated.

Parade for the primary students through the school in their costumes while older students, staff and parents lined the halls.

December

Celebrations:

Hannukah (Jewish) - Dec. 24th

Approximately in 164 B.C., Maccabees, a small group of Jews fighting for religious freedom won victory over the Syrians. The legend goes that to rededicate the Temple, they found only one jar of holy oil and miraculously the candelabra remained lit for 8 days. The Festival of Lights is celebrated for eight days with the lighting of an eight candle menorah. Special readings and songs of praise focus on liberty and freedom.

Christmas (Christianity) - Dec. 25th

This day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth over 2000 years ago. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Chrsitian festival of the year. In most communities it is a family day.

Kwanzaa - Dec. 26th

The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE (All 3 Holidays):

Diversity Club student’s decorate Christmas Tree in front foyer and the display case for all three holiday’s.

All students write a holiday wish and the wishes get made into a large chain that decorates the tree and the office.

January

On this day, some Eastern churches celebrate the birth of Jesus according to the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian or Western calendar.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on EDSBY.

Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year - January 28th

The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. Happy Chinese New Year 2017 - The Year of the Rooster. The new year has begun and will last until Feb 15, 2018.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Announcements on EDSBY.

Hide paper fortune cookies around the school with good deeds in them for the students to find.

Decorate display case.

February

Celebrations:

Black History

Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Display case decorated with pictures of Black Canadians in History.

Each class makes a hand wreath using flesh tone construction paper to go in the display case and front foyer.

Diversity Club students made trivia questions for the junior/intermediate students to answer everyday on EDSBY.

Announcements on EDSBY.

Grade 8 students to watch the movie 'Hidden Figures'

The incredible untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson - brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

Shrove Tuesday ~ February 28th

Also known in Commonwealth countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake day. It is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes.

WHAT WE DO AT BOYNE:

Make and serve pancakes to the whole school.

Announcement on EDSBY

March

Celebrations:

Holi (Sikh, Hindu) ~ March 13th

This festival of colour celebrates Spring, where people play with liquid and powdered colours, light bonfires and blow horns to celebrate the destruction of Holika.